Rapids To Unveil 2005 Player of the Year Awards at Saturday's Semifinal Playoff Game

ColoradoRapids.com - The Colorado Rapids announced today that the club will unveil the 2005 Rapids Player of the Year Awards at halftime of this Saturday's Western Conference semifinal playoff game.

The Rapids players who have been selected as award winners in 9 different categories will be revealed to the public in a special halftime event.

The award winners are selected based on players' performances over the course of the entire season and are selected by the local Colorado media.

The 2005 Colorado Rapids Player Award categories are:

RAPIDS ROOKIE OF THE YEAR AWARD: This award goes to the player who has made the biggest impact to the team in his rookie season.

BLACK & BLUE PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD: This award goes to the Rapids player each year who most exemplifies the true spirit of the Colorado Rapids game in and game out.

RAPIDS RESERVE TEAM MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: In its inaugural year this award goes to the most invaluable player on the Rapids Reserve team this season.

RAPIDS PLAYMAKER OF THE YEAR: This award goes to the Rapids player who has been most instumental in developing the Rapids attack all year and creating scoring opportunities for the team.

RAPIDS MOST IMPROVED PLAYER: This award goes to the Rapids player who has shown the most marked improvement over the course of the season.

RAPIDS DEFENDER OF THE YEAR AWARD: This award goes to the Rapids player who shows the most steadfast and gritty defensive skills over the course of the year.

U.S. SOCCER FOUNDATION RAPIDS HUMANITARIAN OF THE YEAR AWARD: This award is given to a Rapids player not for his success on the field – but for giving of his time and talent off the field. This year’s winner has earned this prestigious award for his service to our local Colorado community.

2005 BUDWEISER RAPIDS GOLDEN BOOT AWARD: The Budweiser Rapids Golden Boot Award goes to the player who over the course of the regular season has scored the most goals for the Black & Blue.

HONDA RAPIDS MOST VALUABLE PLAYER AWARD: The Honda Rapids Most Valuable Player Award goes to the player who most exemplifies reliability dependability and exceptional performance and who has been most indispensable to the Rapids over the course of the season.

Be there at halftime on Saturday and don't miss your chance to catch the 2005 Colorado Rapids Players of the Year Awards Presentation!

Individual Tickets Group Tickets and Fat City Youth Night Promotional tickets for the Rapids' Home Playoff Semifinal on Saturday are now on sale by calling the Rapids ticket offices at 303-825-GOAL or visiting the Pepsi Center box office (10:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m.) or any TicketMaster location or by calling 303-830-TIXS OR online by clicking on the "TICKETS" tab on the top of this webpage.